Hudson Smith improved his time every moment he was on track this year. Adjustment has been rapid and his 2024 deserves a pat on the back.
2024 feels like the first time the world has seen what decorated Britain sprinter and hurdler Matt Hudson Smith can really be.
From the Bislett Games, Oslo in May to the Paris Olympic Games where he grabbed silver, Hudson Smith’s impeccable 2024 could not have gone any better. Even with some niggling issues and a nagging injury, the 30-year-old proved a handful.
Noah Lyles is known for his exploits on the track but surprisingly, sprints was not his first choice while growing up.
The four-time European champion headed into 2024 with the then European record and a PB of 44.26 and ended up lowering it to 43.44 in more than five times according to the Athletics Weekly. He acquired his Paris silver after cutting the tape in 43.40, to cap a remarkable turnaround in fortunes, announcing himself to the world that he is the real deal.
He produced the fifth-fastest run of all time in Paris and the world was in awe of his feat. On May 30, he ran 44.07 in the Bislett Games, Oslo, to kick off his season but it was in August where he made a real statement after running three races during the month.
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American Grant Holloway has been one of the most consistent 110m hurdlers for the past few seasons but achieved a new feat this year after his glory in Paris.
Before that, the 2014 Commonwealth Games relay champion clocked 43.74 in July in the London Athletics Meet. On August 6, in the Olympics 400m semifinals, Hudson-Smith clocked 44.07 to book a ticket for the finals in the French Capital.
A day later, the two-time bronze world medalist ran the race of his life in the finals, coming second in the high-octane race, finishing 0.04 seconds behind eventual gold medalist American Quincy Hall.
A combination of factors have made Hudson Smith make big strides in his career. His move to the USA, where he has been coached by Gary Evans in Florida since 2022, has made a big difference. This has made the Wolverhampton-born athlete to work extra harder in the gym and lessen his injury record.
Hudson’s base speed in 2024 is much quicker compared to 2022 when he lost the Commonwealth Games final because he went off too fast.
While attention turns to the 2025 World Champions and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Hudson Smith is widely considered to be the greatest British and European 400m runner in history and 2024 confirmed that.
